i 

'\ 

CITY  OF  NEWTON, 


Massachusetts. 


REPORTS  OF 


BOULEVARD 


Edwin  B.  Haskell. 


COMMISSION. 

Edmund  W.  Converse. 


Joseph  R.  Leeson. 


December,  1893. 


Newton  Upper  Falls, 
FANNING  PRINTING  CO., 
1893. 


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I 


REPORTS  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


To  His  Ho7tor  the  Mayor  and  the  City  Council  of  Newton  : 


The  undersigned,  members  of  a  Commission  appointed  to 


consider  and  report  as  to  a  system  of  Boulevards  for  the  City  of 


Newton,  herewith,  for  what  seems  to  be  good  and  sufficient  rea¬ 
sons,  submit  a  partial  report. 

The  Commission  began  its  labors  by  hearings  and  otherwise 
early  in  the  year,  with  the  understanding  that  it  had  ample  time 
to  study  the  question  committed  to  it  and  to  make  a  single,  com¬ 
plete  and  comprehensive  report.  It  soon  became  apparent  that 
land  owners  between  the  city  line  near  Chestnut  Hill  Reservoir 
and  Centre  Street,  who  were  prepared  to  make  a  liberal  proposi¬ 
tion  to  the  city  for  a  boulevard  through  that  section,  were  unwill¬ 
ing,  if  not  unable,  to  wait  for  the  final  report  of  the  Commission. 
These  land  owners,  after  a  hearing  before  us,  made  a  direct 
appeal  to  the  City  Government.  Their  petition  and  proposition 
were  referred  to  the  Highway  Committee,  with  instructions  for 
that  committee  to  confer  with  the  Boulevard  commission.  We 
received  official  notice  of  this  action  and  thereupon  proceeded 
to  a  more  special  examination  of  the  route  proposed  between  the 
Newton  and  Boston  line  on  South  Street  and  Centre  Street  at  the 
junction  of  Grafton.  We  heard  the  parties  in  interest  as  fully  as 
they  desired,  and  held  ourselves  in  readiness  to  confer  with  the 
Highway  Committee.  That  committee  very  properly  decided  to 
take  the  time  necessary  to  secure  careful  surveys  of  the  line  and 
estimates  of  the  cost  of  construction,  and  the  commission  turned 
its  attention  to  a  practicable  route  for  extending  the  proposed 
boulevard  through  the  city,  thinking  it  desirable  to  be  able  to  re¬ 
port  upon  one  complete  line.  The  Commission  is  unanimously 


1 


4 


REPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


of  the  opinion  that,  whatever  may  be  recommended  later,  a  cen¬ 
tral  boulevard,  running  on  a  substantially  east  and  west  line 
through  the  city,  deserves  and  should  receive  the  first  considera¬ 
tion  of  the  City  Council.  We  are  pleased  to  be  able  to  report 
that  in  pursuing  our  investigations  to  this  end,  we  have  found  the 
land  owners  on  a  continuation  of  this  central  line  through  the  city 
from  Centre  Street  to  Auburndale,  keenly  alive  to  the  desirability 
of  this  public  improvement  and  ready  to  meet  the  Commission 
with  commendable  liberality. 

The  propositions  which  we  have  received  from  proprietors 
along  the  proposed  route,  usually  acting  harmoniously  together, 
in  difierent  sections,  make  very  favorable  terms  for  the  city,  and 
by  means  thereof,  this  great  improvement  may  be  made  now  at 
comparatively  small  expense. 

The  proposition  of  the  land  owners  on  the  first  or  eastern 
section,  from  the  Newton  and  Boston  line  to  Centre  Street,  which 
is  in  the  hands  of  the  Highway  Committee,  is  to  contribute  the 
land  required  to  make  a  boulevard  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet 
wide  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  in  money.  This  cash 
contribution,  by  rough  estimate,  would  be  about  one-third  the 
cost  of  construction.  The  additional  propositions  we  have  re¬ 
ceived,  which  are  herewith  submitted,  present  about  as  favorable 
terms  for  the  extension  from  Centre  Street  by  the  plan  which  ac¬ 
companies  this  report,  to  a  point  on  Auburn  Street,  Auburndale. 
a  few  rods  east  of  Maple  Street. 

Thus  far  we  have  not  been  able  to  find  a  practicable  route 
to  carry  the  boulevard  at  its  full  width  through  to  the  Charles 
River,  at  the  western  boundary  of  Auburndale,  there  to  connect 
with  the  Auburndale  Riverside  Park  and  the  jDrojected  improve¬ 
ments  on  the  Weston  side.  The  plan  presented  herewith,  shows 
what  may  be  done  on  this  line.  Propositions  in  regard  to  this 
part  of  the  boulevard,  which  is  essential  to  its  completeness,  wil^ 
be  made  hereafter. 

In  accordance  with  the  foregoing,  we  recommend  that  the 
city  government  lay  out  and  construct  a  boulevard  on  the  proposed 
line  from  the  Newton  and  Boston  line  on  South  Street  to  the 
point  above  mentioned  on  Auburn  Street,  one  hundred  and  twen¬ 
ty  feet  wide  where  practicable,  with  two  roadways,  each  twenty 


REPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


5 


feet  wide  reserving  a  space  thirt}-  feet  wide  in  the  centre  for  a 
double  track  electric  railroad,  with  sidewalks  and  trees,  and  a 
space  of  reasonable  width  for  bicycles. 

The  propositions  made  by  land  owners  are  subject  to  the  con¬ 
ditions  that  the  contributions  offered  are  to  be  accepted  in  lieu  of 
betterments  on  the  property  of  those  contributing.  We  make  no 
recommendation  as  to  that  condition,  preferring  to  leave  the 
matter  to  the  judgment  of  the  city  government  after  a  more  de¬ 
tailed  survey  of  the  route  and  more  careful  estimates  of  the  cost 
of  construction,  than  we  have  been  able  to  make  in  this  partial 
and  necessarily  hasty  report. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

E.  B.  HASKELL, 

E.  W.  CONVERSE, 

J.  R.  LEESON, 


Newton,  Mass.,  May  15,  1893. 


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To  His  Ho7tor  the  Mayor  a7id  the  City  Gover7i77ient  of 
JVewto7t : 

Gentlemen  : — The  Commissioners  appointed  under  the  order 
of  Dec.  12,  1892,  ‘To  consider  and  report  to  the  City  Council 
previous  to  January  i,  1894,  as  to  a  system  of  boulevards  which 
shall  be  for  the  improvement  of  the  unoccupied  and  other  territory 
of  the  City  of  Newton,”  respectfully  submit  the  following  report : 

Your  Commissioners  have  felt  justified  in  construing  their 
instructions  to  take  a  broad  view  of  the  needs,  of  our  growing  city 
for  the  years  to  come.  The  population  of  Newton  has  doubled 
in  about  twenty  years  in  the  past,  and  it  is  not  unreasonable  to 
presume  that  it  will  reach  fifty  thousand  in  twenty-five  years,  and 
one  hundred  thousand  in  fifty  or  sixty  years.  Improvements  can 
undoubtedly  be  made  at  less  expense  now  than  later.  We  have 
a  territorv  exceptionally  favorable  for  residences,  and  if  our 
avenues  of  communication  are  made  adequate  and  of  a  good 
character,  it  will  be  rapidly  filled  with  attractive  and  comfortable 
homes. 

It  has  seemed  advisable  to  your  Commissioners  to  provide 
ample  east  and  west  avenues  from  the  Boston  line  through  New¬ 
ton  to  accommodate  and  make  safe  business  and  pleasure  travel, 
and  to  widen  such  north  and  south  streets  as  may  be  needed  to  a 
capacity  sufficient  to  make  rapid  transit  safe  where  the  public 
convenience  may  demand  it. 

With  this  general  view  in  mind,  exceptional  circumstances 
easily  turned  our  attention  to  the  consideration  of  a  central  east 
and  west  boulevard,  extending  the  Boston  boulevards  through 
our  territory,  and  led  us  to  make  a  special  report  thereon.  This 
report,  endorsed  by  the  Highway  Committee,  is  now  before  the 
City  Council.  The  careful  estimates  of  the  committee  show  that 
great  improvement  can  be  made  with  comparatively  small  ex¬ 
pense  to  the  city. 

Our  report  on  that  boulevard  related  to  its  extension  as  far 
west  as  Washington  Street,  leaving  its  continuation  through 
Auburndale  to  the  Weston  line  for  further  investigation.  The 
present  report  will  show  the  completion  of  our  work  on  that  line 


8 


REPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


and  contains  all  the  recommendations  in  regard  to  other  avenues 
which  we  have  thought  wise  and  reasonable  to  make.  We  have 
endeavored  while  studying  the  public  requirements,  to  consider 
the  rights  and  convenience  of  individuals,  as  well  as  the  cost  to 
the  taxpayers,  and  we  believe  that  our  conclusions  are  as  conser¬ 
vative  as  they  should  be  under  the  circumstances.  We  have  not 
been  able  to  make  estimates  of  cost,  but  have  left  that  work  to  be 
done  by  the  City  Council  if  it  sees  fit  to  favor  our  recommenda¬ 
tions.  In  two  cases  we  have  j^resented  alternative  plans,  to  be 
selected  from,  after  more  thorough  investigation. 

The  first  thing  naturally  considered  after  our  special  report 
on  the  central  east  and  west  boulevard  was  the  extension  of  that 
boulevard  to  the  city^boundary  on  the  Charles  River.  It  seems 
desirable  to  make  a  route  as  direct  as  practicable  to  the  Weston 
line,  where  the  projected  improvements  on  the  Weston  side  of 
the  river  will  make  an  objective  point  desirable  to  reach.  These 
improvements  include  a  park  extending  from  Weston  bridge  to 
Riverside,  on  land  given  by  a  public  spirited  citizen  of  Weston, 
and  the  newly  acquired  grounds  of  the  Athletic  Club,  to  be  fitted 
up  for  the  accommodation  of  all  sorts  of  out-door  athletic  exercises. 
Some  difficulties  were  encountered  in  finding  a  practicable  route 
through  the  narrow  streets  of  Auburndale.  Two  plans  were 
considered. 

As  Woodland  Avenue  could  not  be  widened  without  entail¬ 
ing  too  great  expense,  the  next  best  thing  seems  to  be  to  extend 
the  boulevard  by  a  street  eighty  feet  wide  from  Washington  Street 
at  the  junction  of  Fuller,  parallel  with  Woodland  Avenue  and 
about  four  hundred  feet  north  of  it,  to  Grove  Street,  thence  di¬ 
agonally  to  the  Auburn  Street  bridge  over  the  railroad,  with  the 
exception  of  three  estates,  this  route  would  be  entirely  through 
unimproved  land,  and  a  majority  of  the  owners  would  make 
favorable  terms.  The  alternative  route  is  to  begin  as  above,  con¬ 
tinue  westerly,  parallel  with  Woodland  Avenue  between  eight 
and  nine  hundred  feet,  thence  curve  to  the  north  and  reach  Au¬ 
burn  Street,  by  the  line  of  a  new  street  recently  constructed 
through  land  of  F.  Johnson.  In  any  case.  Auburn  Street  should 
be  widened  to  at  least  sixty  feet  from  its  junction  with  Washing¬ 
ton  Street,  to  the  business  square  of  Auburndale.  This  street  has 


REPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


9 


a  good  deal  of  heavy  traffic  from  Weston  and  the  towns  beyond, 
and  it  is  likely  to  be  increased  in  the  future.  To  accommodate 
the  pleasure  travel  from  the  Auburndale  Square  to  the  river  we 
recommend  the  widening  of  Ash  Street  to  at  least  sixty  feet  to 
the  intersection  of  Bourne  Street,  and  that  a  new  street,  eighty 
feet  wide,  be  constructed  through  the  city  land  and  the  unoccupied 
land  of  the  Fowle  and  Holbrook  estates  to  the  river,  thence  fol¬ 
lowing  the  river  to  a  junction  witli  Auburn  Street  near  the  Wes¬ 
ton  bridge.  This  route  gives  direct  access  to  the  Auburndale 
river  park,  which  abuts  on  Ash  Street,  and  fairly  direct  to  the 
proposed  park  at  Weston.  Auburn  Street  from  the  Weston 
bridge  to  the  business  square,  Auburndale,  would  be  left  for  busi¬ 
ness  traffic.  The  western  outlet  for  the  central  boulevard  by  this 
route  would  be  reasonably  convenient  and  agreeable. 

The  next  matter  considered  was  the  widening  of  Washington 
Street.  This  improvement  is  imperatively  demanded  on  the 
ground  of  safety.  On  nearly  the  whole  length  of  this  street 
electric  lines  are  operated  or  projected.  Cars  are  running  from 
Newton  to  West  Newton,  and  a  line  from  West  Newton  to  Lower 
Falls  has  secured  a  right  of  way.  The  business  traffic  through 
Newton  is  largely  on  this  street.  Driving  on  it  is  positively  dan¬ 
gerous  today. 

The  Commissioners  have  carefully  considered  the  conditions, 
always  bearing  in  mind  the  expense  to  be  incurred,  and  recom¬ 
mend  that  Washington  Street,  from  the  Wellesley  line  at  Newton 
Lower  Falls  to  the  junction  of  Beacon  Street,  be  widened  where 
practicable  to  seventy  feet,  at  some  points  it  would  cost  too  much 
to  secure  this  width  ;  from  Beacon  Street  through  West  Newton 
and  Newtonville  to  Newton,  at  the  junction  of  a  new  street  now 
suggested  to  connect  Eldredge  and  Washington  Streets ;  that 
Elmwood  and  Park  Street  to  Tremont;  that  Tremont  Street 
from  Park  Street  to  the  Boston  line  in  the  direction  of  Oak  Square, 
all  be  widened  to  seventy-five  feet.  In  case  the  suggestion  as  to 
the  extension  of  Eldredge  Street  be  not  adopted,  the  widening  of 
Washington  Street  should  continue  to  the  junction  of  Park  Street ; 
Park  Street  from  Washington  to  Tremont  to  a  uniform  width  of 
seventy-five  feet,  thence  as  herein  proposed  to  the  Boston  line. 

We  should  be  glad  to  see  this  great  avenue  through  the  city 


10 


REPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


made  wider  than  we  have  recommended,  but  an  examination 
shows  that  any  increase  above  seventy-five  feet  would  be  attended 
by  too  great  expense  to  be  justified  by  the  increased  convenience. 
The  width  we  recommend  will  secure  reasonable  convenience 
and  safety. 

Our  attention  was  next  called  to  the  need  of  at  least  two 
wider  north  and  south  avenues  east  of  that  part  of  Washington 
Street  which  runs  from  West  Newton  to  Newton  Lower  Falls. 

Walnut  Street  was  first  taken  up,  as  that  street  is  already 
occupied  by  an  electric  railway.  We  are  of  the  opinion  that  it  is 
a  mistake  wherever  a  location  is  granted  for  an  electric  railway 
on  any  street  of  the  ordinary  width  without  a  j^i'ovision  for 
widening,  and  our  judgment  is  against  such  action  in  the  future. 
With  the  existing  conditions  on  Walnut  Street,  we  recommend 
that  from  the  railroad  to  the  High  School  building  it  be  widened 
to  seventy  feet,  from  the  High  School  building  to  Griffin  avenue 
to  eighty  feet,  and  from  Griffin  avenue  to  Centre  street  to  seventy 
feet.  The  proprietors  of  unimproved  land  between  the  High 
School  building  and  Griffin  Avenue  have  evinced  a  disposition  to 
meet  the  city  with  liberal  propositions  for  this  part  of  the 
improvement,  while  the  importance  of  such  an  avenue  to 
Newtonville,  a  rapidly  growing  village,  is  generally  appreciated. 

We  have  found  grave  difficulties  to  be  encountered  in  secur¬ 
ing  a  wider  avenue  from  Newton  to  Newton  Centre.  There  has 
already  been  a  call  for  rapid  transit  between  these  villages,  but 
so  far  no  location  has  been  granted.  It  is  not  improbable  that 
the  public  convenience  will  in  the  near  future  make  a  demand 
which  the  enterprise  of  electric  railway  builders  has  already 
anticipated.  There  is  no  existing  route  over  which  an  electric 
road  could  be  operated  with  safety  to  the  citizens.  To  provide  a 
location  for  an  electric  railway,  should  the  call  for  it  become 
imperative,  two  plans  are  here  suggested.  Centre  street,  the 
most  direct  route,  seems  to  be  out  of  the  question.  The  cost  ot 
widening  would  be  too  heavy,  and  the  beauty  of  the  street  as  it  is 
makes  its  preservation  desirable.  We  considered  Waverley 
Avenue  as  a  possible  route,  but  found  vigorous  opposition  from 
all  the  proprietors  north  of  Sargent  street.  South  of  Sargent 
street  the  proprietors  were  generally  favorable  to  the  improve- 


REPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


11 


ment.  It  would  be  possible  to  widen  Park  Street,  and  Park 
Avenue  to  Cotton  Street,  and  then  make  a  new  street  through 
vacant  land  which  offers  favorable  conditions  for  construction  to 
the  new  boulevard,  south  of  Ward  Street.  By  widening  Centre 
Street  from  the  new  boulevard  to  Newton  Centre  which  could  be 
easily  done  on  the  west  side  as  far  as  Willow  Street,  and  on  the 
east  side  from  Willow  to  Beacon,  which  should  be  done  in  any 
event,  a  practicable  route  for  rapid  transit  could  be  secured,  over 
Park  Street,  Park  Avenue,  the  new  street,  the  boulevard  and 
Centre  Street.  Careful  investigation,  however,  shows  that  the 
northern  part  of  this  route  could  be  more  advantageously  made  by 
widening  Eldredge  Street  and  extending  it  to  Washington,  and 
constructing  a  new  street  from  the  southern  end  of  Eldredge 
through  a  natural  depression  near  Centre  Street  southeasterly  to 
and  over  a  portion  of  Hyde  Avenue,  thence  diagonally  to  the 
noithern  end  of  Park  Avenue.  Either  of  these  routes  would 
encounter  difficulties  and  expense  in  the  thickly  settled  part  of 
the  village  north  of  Sargent  Street.  It  is  not  impossible  that  the 
W averley  avenue  route  might  on  tlie  whole,  be  found  more 
favorable  than  either  of  the  above. 

Beacon  Street  is  now  seventy  feet  wide,  for  a  large  part  of 
the  distance  from  the  Boston  line  to  Centre  Street.  We 
recommend  that  it  be  widened  to  the  same  width  for  the  whole 
distance. 

We  recommend  that  Centre  Street,  Winchester  Street  and 
Needham  street,  forming  a  direct  and  continuous  line  from 
Newton  Centre  to  the  Needham  line  be  widened  as  follows : 
From  Beacon  street  to  the  railroad  crossing  to  a  width  of  seventy 
feet ;  from  the  railroad  crossing  to  the  Needham  line  to  a  width 
of  eighty  feet. 

One  of  the  most  attractive  improvements  suggested  in  the 
recent  discussions  of  parks,  parkways,  boulevards  and  public 
reservations  is  a  driveway  following  the  Charles  River  from  the 
basin  and  embankments  in  Boston  through  the  whole  metro¬ 
politan  district  to  Dedham,  returning  to  the  city  through  - 
parkways  already  projected  and  nearly  finished.  Such  a  way 
would  connect  the  increasing  public  reservations  on  the  river,  by 
means  of  which  it  is  hoped  to  secure  nearly  the  whole  of  both 


12 


EEPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


banks  of  the  river  in  public  ownership,  for  sanitary  as  well  as 
esthetic  purposes.  On  account  of  the  different  municipalities 
interested,  if  that  great  improvement  is  ever  accomplished,  it 
must  be  done  by  some  such  general  agency  as  the  Metropolitan 
Park  Commission.  Newton  should  be  prompt  to  do  its  part 
whenever  the  time  comes,  for  to  no  other  city  or  town  would  it 
oe  of  greater  benefit.  Such  an  avenue  would  follow  the  city’s 
boundaries  for  a  large  part  of  the  whole  distance  on  three  sides, 
and  would  charmingly  supplement  our  interior  communities. 

Your  Commissioners  have  examined  with  great  interest  the 
report  of  Albert  F.  Noyes,  late  City  Engineer,  and  Edward  A. 
Buss,  Civil  Engineer,  on  a  plan  for  Surface  Drainage,  involving 
the  improvement  of  the  water-ways  in  our  territory,  and  provid¬ 
ing  for  the  proper  location  of  new  streets  for  the  development  of 
land  as  yet  unimproved.  They  desire  to  give  the  plan  presented, 
their  unqualified  approval,  and  hereby  recommend  that  as  rapidly 
as  practicable  all  the  water-ways  of  those  parts  of  the  city  where 
more  perfect  surface  drainage  is  required,  be  brought  under  the 
treatment  suggested  by  the  engineers.  A  good  illustration  is 
furnished  by  the  improvement  undertaken  in  the  valley  of  the 
lower  Cheesecake  Brook.  A  similar  improvement  has  been 
partially  provided  for  on  the  brook  between  Newtonville  Avenue 
and  Cabot  Street,  and  this  should  be  continued  through  the  whole 
length  of  the  brook  to  Centre  Street,  and  beyond  as  indicated  by 
the  engineer’s  report.  This  valley  has  many  beautiful  features, 
and  the  desirability  of  reserving  a  considerable  area  of  land  for  a 
park  south  of  Cabot  Street  has  been  forcibly  impressed  upon  us 
while  pursuing  our  investigations  in  that  section.  In  most  of  the 
cases  where  the  improvement  of  the  water-ways  should  be 
undertaken,  owners  of  the  land  could  well  afford  to  co-operate 
with  the  city  by  liberal  contributions,  thereby  diminishing  the 
public  expenditures.  The  contiguous  lands,  considerable  areas 
in  some  cases,  would  be  largely  increased  in  value  by  thorough 
drainage  and  by  a  plan  of  development  which  would  make  the 
lands  higher  than  the  avenue. 

In  order  to  assist  in  the  furtherance  of  the  suggestions  herein 
outlined,  your  commission  submit  the  draft  of  an  act  of  similar 
character  to  legislation  enacted  within  recent  years,  in  this  state. 


KEPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSIONc 


13 


with  such  enlargement  of  its  scope  as  would  seem  to  ,be  required 
by  the  local  conditions  in  the  City  of  Newton. 

We  cordially  extend  our  thanks  to  His  Honor  the  Mayor, 
he  members  of  the  City  Council,  and  the  City  Engineer’s  depart¬ 
ment,  for  courtesies  and  assistance. 

Suminary  of  Recommendations. 

1.  To  extend  the  new  boulevard  from  Washington  Street 
by  a  single  roadway  of  eighty  feet  to  Auburn,  by  one  of  two  plans 
proposed  above. 

2.  To  make  an  outlet  from  the  boulevard  to  the  Charles 
River  by  wiciening  Ash  Street,  and  making  a  new  street  from 
Ash  at  Bourne  Street  to  the  river,  and  thence  to  a  junction  with 
Auburn  Street  near  Weston  Bridge. 

3.  To  widen  Auburn  Street  from  W’^ashington  Street  to 
the  bridge  over  the  railroad  to  at  least  sixty  feet. 

4.  To  widen  Washington  Street  from  the  Wellesley  line  at 
Lower  Falls  to  Beacon  Street,  to  seventy  feet  where  practicable  ; 
from  Beacon  Street  to  a  proposed  extension  of  Eldredge  street ; 
to  make  the  proposed  extension  of  Eldredge  Street ;  to  widen 
Elmwood,  Park  and  Tremont  Street  to  the  Boston  line  to 
seventy-five  feet. 

5.  To  widen  Walnut  Street  from  the  railroad  crossing  to 
the  High  School  building  to  seventy  feet ;  thence  to  Griffin 
Avenue  to  eighty  feet ;  thence  to  Centre  Street  to  seventy  feet. 

6.  Two  plans  suggested  in  case  rapid  transit  is  granted 
from  Newton  to  Newton  Centre. 

7.  To  widen  Beacon  Street  from  Boston  line  to  Centre  to 
seventy  feet. 

8.  To  widen  Centre  Street  from  the  crossing  of  the  new 
boulevard  to  the  railroad  crossing  near  Paul  Street  to  seventy 
feet,  thence  to  its  end,  and  Winchester  and  Needham  streets,  to 
the  Needham  line,  to  eighty  feet. 

9.  To  carry  out  as  rapidly  as  practicable  the  plan  made  by 
the  engineers,  Messrs.  Noyes  and  Buss,  for  the  improvement  of 
the  water-ways  of  Newton. 


14 


REPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


Plans 

submitted. 


illustrating  our  recommendations 
Respectfully  submitted, 


are  herewith 


E.  B.  HASKELL,  1  Commission 
E.  VV.  CONVERSE,  f  on 
J.  R.  LEESON,  )  Boulevards. 


Additional  Report. 

Since  the  completion  of  the  report  of  the  Boulevard  Com¬ 
mission,  and  before  the  transmission  of  that  report  to  the  City 
Council,  the  time  limit  upon  which  were  based  certain  proposi¬ 
tions  in  regard  to  the  central  east  and  west  boulevard  between 
Valentine  and  Washington  streets,  has  expired.  The  commission 
is  informed  that  while  preliminary  action  was  taken  upon  those 
propositions  by  the  City  Council,  such  action  was  of  a  conditional 
character,  and  not  final. 

With  this  understanding,  the  commission,  at  the  request  ot 
the  owners  of  real  estate  in  the  section  referred  to,  reached  a 
decision  to  re-open  the  hearings,  in  so  far  as  relates  to  this 
particular  branch  of  the  report.  At  those  hearings,  certain 
amended  propositions  were  laid  before  the  commission,  in  favor 
of  the  Fuller  Street  route  heretofore  recommended  by  the  com¬ 
mission  in  its  preliminary  report.  Definite  propositions  were 
also  presented  to  the  commission  in  favor  of  a  route  north  of 
Fuller  Street,  known  as  the  Northern  Route  on  that  line. 
These  propositions  in  regard  to  the  same,  are  herewith  presented 
to  the  City  Council  for  such  action  thereupon,  as  may  seem  to 
the  council  wise  and  expedient.  The  line  of  this  northern  route 
is  shown  as  an  alternative  proposition  on  the  plan  of  the  east  and 
west  boulevard  accompanying  these  reports,  all  of  which  are 
respectfully  submitted. 


E.  W.  CONVERSE. 
J.  R.  LEESON. 


REPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


15 


An  Act  Relating*  to  the  Location  and  Laying*  Out  of 
Streets,  Parks  and  Drains  in  the  City  of  [N^ewton. 


Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in 
General  Court  Assembled  and  by  the  Authority  of  the  same  as 
follows  : 

Sect.  1.  The  Mayor  and  Aldermen  of  the  City  of  Newton 
shall  within  thirty  days  from  the  passage  of  this  act  appoint  three 
able  and  discreet  persons,  qualified  voters  in  said  city,  who 
together  with  the  Mayor  and  City  Engineer  and  their  successors 
in  office  shall  constitute  a  park  and  drainage  commission.  Said 
commission  shall  hold  office  for  the  term  of  three  years  from  the 
date  of  their  appointment,  unless  the  work  which  they  are  hereby 
authorized  to  do  is  sooner  coiwpleted.  Any  vacancy  occurring 
shall  be  filled  in  the  same  manner  as  said  original  appointment 
and  said  members  so  appointed  may  be  removed  by  the  Mayor 
with  the  consent  of  the  Aldermen.  The  salaries  and  expenses 
of  said  board  shall  be  determined  by  the  City  Council  of  said 
City  of  Newton.  Said  commission  may  employ  such  assistants 
and  incur  such  expense  as  it  deems  necessary  for  the  execution  of 
the  provisions  of  this  act,  so  far  as  money  therefor  may  be 
appropriated  by  the  City  Council  of  said  City  of  Newton. 

Sect.  2.  Said  commission  shall  with  all  reasonable 
dispatch  cause  to  be  made  under  its  direction,  plans  of  such 
territory  or  sections  of  land  in  said  city  as  it  deems  necessary  or 
the  City  Council  shall  direct,  showing  thereon  existing  water¬ 
courses  and  valleys,  and  the  location,  grades  and  required  sections 
or  carrying  capacity  of  said  water  courses,  so  far  as  may  be  con¬ 
sidered  necessary  for  the  complete  and  proper  carrying  of  the 
estimated  quantity  of  water  that  should  be  provided  for  through 
said  valleys  or  water  courses,  and  also  the  width  or  amount  of 
land  necessary  to  be  entered  upon  for  the  proper  construction 
and  maintenance  of  drains  or  water-ways  to  be  used  therefor. 
Said  plan  shall  also  show  such  existing  buildings,  streets,  property 
lines  and  other  data  as  may  be  required  for  a  proper  determina¬ 
tion  of  such  location  indicated,  but  inaccuracies  and  omission  of 
such  information  shall  not  render  such  plans  invalid. 


16 


IIEPOIIT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSIOX. 


Sect.  3.  The  making  and  filing  of  plans  as  herein  provided 
of  existing  water  ways  and  valleys  shall  make  said  water-courses, 
public  water  courses,  for  the  f)i^ii*pose  of  the  removal  of  ground 
and  surface  water  in  their  respective  locations  at  the  time  of  said 
filling  and  until  the  location  thereof  is  changed,  and  shall  also 
define  the  width  upon  which  the  city  is  authorized  to  enter  for 
the  purpose  of  constructing,  maintaining  and  repairing  the  same 
for  such  purposes,  and  no  building  shall  be  erected  within  the 
width  defined  upon  said  plan,  except  by  authorit}'^  of  said  com¬ 
mission  or  said  City  of  Newton  and  with  the  condition  that  the 
same  shall  be  removed  whenever  required  by  said  city  or 
said  commission.  No  person  or  corporation  shall  enter  any 
drain  or  sewer  into  any  such  water-course,  nor  conduct  anv 
sewage  or  drainage  matter  or  pollution  of  any  kind  therein,  nor 
into  any  water-course,  channel  or  stream,  natural  or  artificial, 
connected  therewith,  and  shall  not  injure,  destroy,  divert  or 
obstruct  anv  such  water-course.  Said  City  of  Newton  is  hereb^ 
authorized  from  time  to  time,  to  enter  upon  said  portions 
indicated  upon  said  plans  for  the  purposes  of  building,  deepening, 
improving,  maintaining  and  repairing  the  channels  of  said  water¬ 
courses  in  any  portion  thereof,  and  to  drain  land  abutting  there¬ 
upon  and  adjacent  thereto,  and  use  any  portion  of  such  land  and 
take  therefrom  stones,  earth  or  other  material  so  far  as  the  same 
may  be  necessary  or  convenient  in  effecting  such  improvement. 
Said  city  when  it  has  commenced  to  improve  any  such  water¬ 
course  or  portion  thereof,  shall  use  all  reasonable  diligence  to 
complete  said  work  begun. 

Sect.  4.  Said  commission  shall  also  cause  to  be  made  plans 
to  be  entitled  “Plans  for  Highways  and  Parks  ”  of  such  portion 
of  the  city  as  its  City  Council  shall  direct,  or  as  said  commission 
shall  deem  necessary,  showing  therein  the  location  of  existing 
streets,  ways  and  parks,  and  all  such  streets,  ways  and  parks, 
whether  already  laid  out  or  not,  as  said  commission  shall  be  of 
the  opinion  the  present  or  future  necessity  of  the  cit}’  shall  require 
within  the  territory  upon  said  plans,  showing  clearly  the  direc¬ 
tion,  width  grade  and  boundary  lines  of  such  streets,  ways  and 
parks. 

Sect.  o.  The  completion  and  filing  as  herein  provided  of 


REPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


17 


any  such  plan  named  in  section  four,  shall  define  the  locations 
for  streets,  ways  and  parks  in  the  portion  covered  by  such  plan. 
No  person  or  corporation  shall,  after  the  passage  of  this  act, 
prepare  or  open  for  public  travel  any  way  in  the  portion  of  said 
city  not  covered  by  said  plan,  unless  its  location,  direction,  width, 
and  grade  is  satisfactory  to  and  approved  in  writing  by  said 
commission,  or  by  the  City  Council.  No  person  or  corporation 
shall,  after  the  filing  of  any  such  plan,  prepare  or  open  for  public 
travel,  any  street  or  way  in  the  territory  shown  upon  said  plan, 
unless  Its  location,  direction,  width  and  grade  are  In  accordance 
with  those  shown  on  such  plan,  and  no  public  sewer,  drain, 
water  pipe  or  lamp  shall  be  placed  In,  or  public  work  done  in 
any  way  other  than  in  or  on  said  ways  as  shown  on  said  plan  or 
plans  of  such  territory ;  provided,  however,  that  this  provision 
shall  not  prevent  the  laying  of  a  trunk  sewer  or  a  water  or  gas 
main  as  engineering  demands  shall  require. 

Sect.  6.  Before  making  any  plan  hei'ein  provided,  said 
commission  shall  give  a  hearing  and  due  notice  thereof  to  all 
parties  interested,  and  after  the  making  of  said  plan  and  before 
adopting  and  recording  the  same,  shall  give  a  like  notice  and 
hearing  and  shall  keep  said  plan  open  to  public  inspection  for 
tw’o  months  after  the  first  notice  of  said  second  hearing,  and  be¬ 
fore  the  date  thereof.  Notice  shall  be  given  of  each  such  hearings 
and  the  placing  of  each  such  plan  open  to  public  inspection  in,  at 
least,  two  newspapers  published  in  said  city,  once  a  week  for 
three  successive  weeks,  before  the  hearing  or  placing  of  said  plan 
open  to  public  inspection.  Said  plan  after  said  hearings  and 
after  being  kept  open  to  public  inspection  as  herein  provided, 
and  after  such  alterations  shall  have  been  made  thereon  as  may 
be  deemed  necessary  by  said  board,  shall  be  marked  as  made 
under  the  provisions  of  this  act ;  be  signed  and  approved  by  a 
majority  of  said  board  and  then  filed  in  the  office  of  the  City  En 
gineer  of  said  City  of  Newton,  and  the  date  of  the  filing  be  writ¬ 
ten  thereon  and  attested  by  said  City  Engineer.  Every  plan  so 
signed  and  attested  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence  that  said  plan 
and  all  data  made  thereon  are  under  the  authority  of  and  in  ac¬ 
cordance  with  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sect.  7.  The  powers  of  the  City  Council  of  said  City  of 


18 


KEPORT  OF  BOULEVARD  COMMISSION. 


Newton,  shall  not  be  abridged  by  this  act,  except  so  far  as  to  de¬ 
termine  locations,  directions,  widths  and  grades  for  streets  and 
ways,  and  locations  for  drains. 

Sect.  8.  Said  commission  may  enter  into  and  upon  any 
land  so  far  as  it  deems  necessary  to  carry  out  the  aforesaid  pro¬ 
visions  and  make  such  examination,  surveys,  and  place  and  main¬ 
tain  such  monuments  and  marks  as  it  deems  necessary.  Any 
person  injured  in  his  property  by  such  entry,  or  the  placing  and 
maintaining  of  such  monuments  and  marks  shall  be  entitled  to 
damages  for  any  injury  sustained  by  him  thereb}^,  to  be  deter¬ 
mined  in  the  manner  provided  for  determining  and  paying  dam¬ 
ages  sustained  in  laying  out  of  streets  and  ways  in  said  City  of 
Newton. 

Sect.  9.  This  act  shall  not  be  construed  to  authorize  the 
taking  of  land  nor  to  render  said  city  liable  for  damages  for  enter¬ 
ing  thereon,  except  for  examination  and  survey,  and  for  ^^lacing 
and  maintaining  monuments  and  marks  as  herein  provided  ;  nor 
shall  it  authorize  said  city  to  construct  or  maintain  any  streets, 
ways,  parks,  or  drains  or  other  public  works  until  they  have  been 
laid  out  under  other  provisions  of  law  therefor  now  existing. 

Sect.  10.  After  the  first  advertisement  of  a  hearing  upon 
any  plan  under  the  provisions  of  this  act,  no  building  shall  be 
placed  or  erected  upon  any  land,  shown  upon  said  plan  to  be  the 
location  for  a  street,  way,  park  or  water-course,  or  land  adjacent 
thereto  or  location  for  the  construction  of  sewers,  unless  the  owner 
thereof  shall  agree  to  remove  the  same  at  his  own  expense  when 
required  by  said  commission. 

Sect.  11.  This  act  shall  not  authorize  the  location  or  lay¬ 
ing  out  of  any  highway  or  public  place  on  or  over  any  public 
park  or  burial  ground,  except  as  already  authorized  by  law. 

Sect.  12.  Any  court  having  jurisdiction  in  equity  shall  also 
have  jurisdiction  to  enforce  the  provisions  of  this  act,  and  restrain 
any  violations  thereof. 

Sect.  13.  This  act  shall  take  effect  upon  its  passage. 


SCALE  OF  FEET. 


DECEMBER  1893. 


ALBERT  F  NOYES . 

Engineer 

E.8.  HASKELL.'] 

J  R.LEE.SON.  I  boulevard  COMMISSION. 

E.W. CONVERSE.  ^ 

^  NotB.  lines  REGOMMENDEt)  BY  BOULEVARD  GOMMlSSlON  SHOWN  IN  RED. 

^  ALTERNATE  •'  ■■  ■'  "  “  "  " 

^  NEWTON  CENTRAL  BOULEVARD  SHOWN  IN  YELLOW. 

LOCATION  OF  PRESENT  PARK  AREAS  SHOWN  IN  HATCHED  GREEN. 


«f  Nru,,„ 

Proposed  Boulevard  Routes 


3  01 


12 


098432633 


